Eric Perkins receives Jefferson Youth Service Award

Honoree Eric Perkins receiving Jefferson Youth Award. Presenters include Rowena Madden, member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Volunteerism, and Karen Hatcher, Director of Students in Action of New Jersey.

Eric Perkins was honored in the Health and Wellness Category at the NJ Youth Service Awards. Perkins is a student at ECLC, a school for special needs, who chooses to defy his autism diagnoses by using his musical talents to spread joy to others. Together with his music teacher, Russ Bargiel, he visits the residents of Van Dyk Park Place (an assisted living facility in Hawthorne), and Van Dyk Manor of Ridgewood (a long term care facility), at least once a month with accordions and guitars. The residents get an invaluable lift of the spirits, and Eric also benefits: He has company that he enjoys and a stage to spotlight his talents, reaching a comfort level in a community setting outside of his school and home. Sing-A-Long With Eric! has given him the confidence to contemplate performing arts as a careers once he graduated from ECLC in the coming year.